Job 2

1 Y OTRO día aconteció que vinieron los hijos de Dios para presentarse delante de Jehová, y Satán vino también entre ellos pareciendo delante de Jehová.

2 Y dijo Jehová á Satán: ¿De dónde vienes? Respondió Satán á Jehová, y dijo: De rodear la tierra, y de andar por ella.

3 Y Jehová dijo á Satán: ¿No has considerado á mi siervo Job, que no hay otro como él en la tierra, varón perfecto y recto, temeroso de Dios y apartado de mal, y que aun retiene su perfección, habiéndome tú incitado contra él, para que lo arruinara sin causa?

4 Y respondiendo Satán dijo á Jehová: Piel por piel, todo lo que el hombre tiene dará por su vida.

5 Mas extiende ahora tu mano, y toca á su hueso y á su carne, y verás si no te blasfema en tu rostro.

6 Y Jehová dijo á Satán: He aquí, él está en tu mano; mas guarda su vida.

7 Y salió Satán de delante de Jehová, é hirió á Job de una maligna sarna desde la planta de su pie hasta la mollera de su cabeza.

8 Y tomaba una teja para rascarse con ella, y estaba sentado en medio de ceniza.

9 Díjole entonces su mujer: ¿Aun retienes tú tu simplicidad? Bendice á Dios, y muérete.

10 Y él le dijo: Como suele hablar cualquiera de las mujeres fatuas, has hablado. También recibimos el bien de Dios, ¿y el mal no recibiremos? En todo esto no pecó Job con sus labios.

11 Y tres amigos de Job, Eliphaz Temanita, y Bildad Suhita, y Sophar Naamathita, luego que oyeron todo este mal que le había sobrevenido, vinieron cada uno de su lugar; porque habían concertado de venir juntos á condolecerse de él, y á consolarle.

12 Los cuales alzando los ojos desde lejos, no lo conocieron, y lloraron á voz en grito; y cada uno de ellos rasgó su manto, y esparcieron polvo sobre sus cabezas hacia el cielo.

13 Así se sentaron con él en tierra por siete días y siete noches, y ninguno le hablaba palabra, porque veían que el dolor era muy grande.

Job 2 Commentary

Chapter 2

Satan obtains leave to try Job. (1-6) Job's sufferings. (7-10) His friends come to comfort him. (11-13)

1-6. How well is it for us, that neither men nor devils are to be our judges! but all our judgment comes from the Lord, who never errs. Job holds fast his integrity still, as his weapon. God speaks with pleasure of the power of his own grace. Self-love and self-preservation are powerful in the hearts of men. But Satan accuses Job, representing him as wholly selfish, and minding nothing but his own ease and safety. Thus are the ways and people of God often falsely blamed by the devil and his agents. Permission is granted to Satan to make trial, but with a limit. If God did not chain up the roaring lion, how soon would he devour us! Job, thus slandered by Satan, was a type of Christ, the first prophecy of whom was, that Satan should bruise his heel, and be foiled.

Verses 7-10 The devil tempts his own children, and draws them to sin, and afterwards torments, when he has brought them to ruin; but this child of God he tormented with affliction, and then tempted to make a bad use of his affliction. He provoked Job to curse God. The disease was very grievous. If at any time we are tried with sore and grievous distempers, let us not think ourselves dealt with otherwise than as God sometimes deals with the best of his saints and servants. Job humbled himself under the mighty hand of God, and brought his mind to his condition. His wife was spared to him, to be a troubler and tempter to him. Satan still endeavours to draw men from God, as he did our first parents, by suggesting hard thoughts of Him, than which nothing is more false. But Job resisted and overcame the temptation. Shall we, guilty, polluted, worthless creatures, receive so many unmerited blessings from a just and holy God, and shall we refuse to accept the punishment of our sins, when we suffer so much less than we deserve? Let murmuring, as well as boasting, be for ever done away. Thus far Job stood the trial, and appeared brightest in the furnace of affliction. There might be risings of corruption in his heart, but grace had the upper hand.

Verses 11-13 The friends of Job seem noted for their rank, as well as for wisdom and piety. Much of the comfort of this life lies in friendship with the prudent and virtuous. Coming to mourn with him, they vented grief which they really felt. Coming to comfort him, they sat down with him. It would appear that they suspected his unexampled troubles were judgments for some crimes, which he had vailed under his professions of godliness. Many look upon it only as a compliment to visit their friends in sorrow; we must look life. And if the example of Job's friends is not enough to lead us to pity the afflicted, let us seek the mind that was in Christ.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 2

This chapter gives an account of a second trial of Job's constancy and integrity, the time and occasion of it, Job 2:1-3; the motion made for it by Satan, which being granted, he smote him from head to foot with sore boils, which he endured very patiently, Job 2:4-8; during which sad affliction he is urged by his wife to give up his integrity, which he bravely resisted, Job 2:9,10; and the chapter is concluded with an account of a visit of three of Job's friends, and of their conduct and behaviour towards him, Job 2:11-13.